Five-Colored Luan Bird Molted Feather!

That was something the system had rewarded me with last month.

[Five-Colored Luan Bird Molted Feather].

According to the system, it was a feather shed by a ferocious bird called the Five-Colored Luan Bird in the Shrouding Heavens World.

In Lin Qiu's eyes,

since this thing came from the Shrouding Heavens World, even if it was just a single feather, it should still be an extraordinary treasure in this fantasy world of the Douluo World.

Giving one to Qian Renxue as a keepsake seemed like a nice idea, too.

Qian Renxue looked at the feather.

She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

That's it?

And it's a treasure?

And it's supposed to protect me?

I'm going to be a crown prince. I'll have a Titled Douluo protecting me. Do I really need this bird feather to protect me?

This silly boy—he really was adorably naïve.

Still,

when she saw the earnest look in Lin Qiu's eyes,

the softest place in Qian Renxue's heart was touched all the same.

She held out her hand and solemnly accepted the feather.

The moment her fingertips touched it,

a warm sensation passed through her.

Maybe it was just her imagination,

but she felt the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul inside her tremble faintly at that moment.

A trace of something so faint it was almost imperceptible... awe?

Awe?

How could that be?

Her Martial Soul was a god-level Martial Soul!

How could it feel awe toward a bird feather?

She must have been too tired these past few days. It was just an illusion.

Qian Renxue shook her head, casting the absurd thought from her mind.

Carefully, she tucked the feather into an inner pocket.

Then she raised her head and looked deeply at Lin Qiu,

as if she wanted to etch his face into her memory.

"All right."

"I'll take it."

"You... should go back."

Qian Renxue turned around, not daring to look at Lin Qiu again.

She was afraid that if she looked one more time, she wouldn't be able to bring herself to leave.

"I'm going."

With that,

she climbed into the carriage without hesitation.

The curtain fell,

separating their two worlds.

"Move out."

Snake Lance Douluo flicked the reins.

The Dragon Scale Horse gave a low whinny and slowly pulled the black carriage into the distance.

The wheels rumbled, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Lin Qiu stood where he was, watching the carriage gradually disappear at the edge of his vision.

The smile on his face slowly faded.

He slipped his hands back into his pockets.

"Once she leaves, it'll be years before we meet again."

Lin Qiu sighed softly.

Though he knew this was inevitable for the story to unfold,

after spending so much time together, he still felt a little hollow inside.

Still,

they were parting now so they could have an even better reunion in the future.

By the time they met again,

he should have enough power to crush anything in his path.

Lin Qiu turned and headed toward Spirit Hall.

His steps were light.

"System."

"Open the status panel."

Lin Qiu murmured inwardly.

For the past six months, though he had been suppressing his cultivation and hadn't undergone Martial Soul Awakening,

the system's rewards had never stopped.

After consuming so many heavenly treasures from the Shrouding Heavens World,

his physique had long since reached a terrifying level.

He had no Soul Power Level,

but his physical body was now comparable to that of a young Pure-Blooded Archaic Remnant.

"Not having a Martial Soul really is a hassle."

"There are so many techniques I can't use."

"But..."

Lin Qiu looked up at the sky.

The sun was shining brightly.

"I wonder what the Dao Foundation forged by the Dao Scripture will awaken as."

"Hopefully, it won't be too terrifying."

Lin Qiu turned his gaze from the carriage disappearing into the distance.

With his hands in his pockets, he turned and headed deeper into Spirit Hall.

His steps were light, and he seemed to be in quite a good mood.

A translucent screen, visible only to him, unfolded.

At the very top of the screen hung a crimson mission bar that looked extremely dangerous.

[Survival Mission: Survive for two and a half years under the nose of a Xiantai powerhouse.]

[Mission Status: In progress.]

[Mission Description: This world is fraught with danger and filled with powerful figures. The host is in peril and must remain vigilant at all times. Staying alive is the best course of action.]

Looking at those words, Lin Qiu almost burst out laughing.

Oh, system, system.

You really are a genius.

A "Xiantai powerhouse" in the Shrouding Heavens World was a mighty expert capable of plucking stars and seizing the moon, roaring mountains and rivers to pieces.

Over there, this mission would absolutely be hellishly difficult.

The slightest lapse, and some passing powerhouse might slap him to death.

But where was he now?

He was on the Douluo Continent.

Forget Xiantai powerhouses.

Even the so-called gods here probably couldn't beat a cultivator in the Dragon Transformation Realm if they were dropped into the Shrouding Heavens World.

"Surviving" in this world was easier than drinking water.

All he did at Spirit Hall was eat and drink, tease Qian Renxue, and play the good boy for Bibi Dong.

And this was supposed to be being in peril?

This was supposed to be staying alive?

This was way too easy.

Lin Qiu looked at the six months remaining on the countdown and pondered.

Based on what he knew of this foolish system,

the rewards for these "high-difficulty" survival missions were usually extremely generous.

And they were often related to physique or origin.

His physical body was powerful and his divine sense keen, but he still hadn't awakened a Martial Soul.

In this world, not having a Martial Soul was ultimately inconvenient.

If he went to awaken one now, he would most likely randomly awaken a Martial Soul innate to this body.

It might be a sword or a hammer.

Its potential would be limited.

But if he waited until the mission was complete six months from now to awaken it,

could he use the system's reward to get something impressive?

For example...

An Ancient Sacred Body?

Or Heavenly Tyrant Blood?

If nothing else, an Innate Dao Fetus would do.

At that thought, Lin Qiu made up his mind.

No rush.

He'd wait another six months.

He was only six years old, after all. Waiting half a year to awaken wouldn't kill him.

Having made up his mind, Lin Qiu hummed a little tune as he returned to his residence.

It was a refined, independent palace, very close to Bibi Dong's bedchamber.

The moment he stepped inside, a faint fragrance drifted into his nose.

It was a blend of orchids and some kind of high-grade incense, elegant yet carrying a hint of authority that was difficult to detect.

But to Lin Qiu, the scent meant only one thing: comfort.

A graceful figure sat on the chaise longue in the hall.

Bibi Dong.

She wasn't wearing her elaborate, solemn papal robes today.

Instead, she wore a pale-purple silk dress.

The dress was closely tailored, perfectly tracing her breathtaking curves.

Its long hem spread across the chaise longue like petals in bloom.

Yet even so, it couldn't hide her long, shapely legs.

She held an ancient book in her hands, leafing through it casually.

At the sound of footsteps, Bibi Dong raised her head.

The trace of coolness that had rested on her peerless face melted away the moment she saw Lin Qiu,

replaced by boundless tenderness and affection.

"You're back?"

Bibi Dong set down the book and beckoned Lin Qiu over.

"Has Xue'er left?"

Her voice was gentle, like a spring breeze brushing against his face.

Lin Qiu obediently walked over and sat beside Bibi Dong.

"Mm, I just saw her off."

"Your big sister seemed pretty determined."